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Getting Started on Your Apartment Search
Getting started on finding a new place to live doesn’t have to be scary or a chore. With a bit of organization and pre-planning, your apartment search can go smoothly and result in a fabulous new place to live. Here are some tips to get you going in the right direction.
Determine the kind of apartment that will meet your needs
It’s hard to start apartment hunting if you don’t know what you’re looking for. One bedroom? Two? A community pool? A separate office? How much do you want to spend?
Before you start your search, you need to know what you want in an apartment in order to weed out places that aren’t going to fit. Answer these basic questions before you kick off your search:
- How much can you afford? How much do you want to spend?
- In what area of town do you want to live?
- How many rooms do you want?
- What kinds of amenities do you want? Do you want access to a gym? A pool?
- Do you prefer a gated community?
- What features do you want inside the apartment? Do you need a washer and dryer in your apartment?
Once you have a basic outline of what your minimum requirements are, you can then start considering optional luxuries — more expensive kitchen appliances, a covered parking space, included utilities, etc.
Set some dates
The amount of time you allow for finding your apartment will depend on how quickly you have to move or how much time you can devote to an apartment search. If you are under no time pressure, allow yourself one to two months to find an apartment. Mark your calendar with your intended move date and move backwards, making sure to leave enough lead time to pack, move and clean your old place.
Stay organized
If you’re looking at a lot of apartments in your apartment search, then you’ll need to keep track of what you like, what you don’t like and what has yet to be seen. The easiest way to keep your apartment search organized is by creating a folder. Print out apartment listings and take them with you when you go to see the apartment. Jot notes on the listings that will trigger your memory about them. In this notebook, also keep your list of “apartment wants,” noting which apartment has the features you desire, and a list of questions to ask apartment managers. In this folder you can also keep any flyers or paperwork apartment communities offer about floor plans, utilities, fees and other important facts that could influence your decision.
You are now ready to start an organized and well-planned apartment search. Armed with these tips, you’ll be signing the lease to your new apartment before you know it.
4 Responses to “Getting Started on Your Apartment Search”
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When you’re considering renting an apartment, you’ll want to know what to expect from a prospective apartment community. That’s why asking the right questions of an apartment community manager is so important. Ask these questions during your apartment search to ensure that you have a clear picture of what it will be like to live in your ...
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Not every landlord or management company requires an apartment walkthrough when you move into a new apartment unit, but it’s generally in your best interest to do so. Request one before you move in, if it’s not initiated for you, and check to see that all is well in your new home. If the owner is ...
Readers Poll
Why are you moving?
- For financial reasons (37%, 15 Votes)
- To start a new job (29%, 12 Votes)
- For a change of scene (27%, 11 Votes)
- To join or follow a loved one (5%, 2 Votes)
- To live closer to family (2%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 41
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I want to know what do you do if they ask for your credit score.Can you still get the apartment if your credit score is bad and don’t have a guarantor or a co-signer?
Hi! That’s a great question. Please check out our article “Can You Rent an Apartment If You Have Bad Credit” for more information that may be helpful. Thanks!
I am a new graduate and have no credit, but my parents will co-sign the lease and I do have a job. Will there be a problem with getting an apartment?
Getting approval to rent an apartment varies with each individual situation, but it sounds like you have thought about many of the necessary elements. Best of luck on your search, Lisa!